In 2016, 1.1 million Federal Direct Loan borrowers defaulted, according to a new analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Education.

More than $137 billion in federal loans originated by financial institutions and the U.S. Department of Education was in default, a 14 percent increase from 2015, said the Consumer Federation of America’s analysis. The average amount owed is $30,650 per federal student loan borrower, up 17 percent since 2013.

“Use a tuition installment plan, instead of long-term loan debt. Tuition installment plans split the college bills into 9 to 12 equal monthly installments for a nominal up-front fee and no interest,” says David Levy, editor of Edvisors, a Las Vegas company specializing in helping students and their families plan and pay for college.